"That's not possible," Villas-Boas said when asked about the prospect of Defoe leaving in January. "It's absolutely impossible. We have the belief in him."

Michael Dawson is another player familiar to Redknapp and he seems to be available for transfer.

"I think if that possibility arises we will have to consider it," Villas-Boas said of a player who has made only one league start this term. "But we're not looking to make a lot in the January transfer window."